Delta to upgrade fleet, add seats on Atlanta flights

Delta Air Lines Inc. will upgrade its fleet at the Greater Rochester International Airport to provide more seats for nonstop flights to Atlanta beginning in July, officials announced Tuesday.

Delta, the leader in passenger traffic at the Rochester airport, will replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-88 planes with MD-90 models, adding 33 seats a day, said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

The additional capacity will offset the loss of Rochester-to-Atlanta routes by AirTran Airways after its merger with Southwest Airlines, Schumer said. AirTran was the other airline with non-stop service Rochester to Atlanta.

“The decision to upgrade the Rochester fleet is a win-win-win for Delta, airline passengers and the Rochester economy,” Schumer said in a statement.

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the No. 3 destination for Rochester departures, officials at the local airport say.

John F. Kennedy International Airport in the New York City area is the top destination, followed by Orlando International Airport in Florida.